There are many opportunities for cannabis to become contaminated with microbes—either during growth, during preparation, or as part of the handling process. Common contaminants include mold, mildew, bacteria, and yeast and while some can be fairly innocuous, others have potential to release mycotoxins and aflatoxins or be contaminated with bacteria known to be pathogenic in humans.
Because water activity is correlated with microbial content, moisture analysis is an important part of a safety testing workflow. Dissecting microscopes can be used for a visual assessment of unwanted growths, but tests such as qPCR or indicator testing are needed to identify specific microbial strains present. Before purchasing equipment, it is important to check guidelines to determine what specific tests and microorganisms are required in the region where testing will be performed.
Follow the links below to discover and compare solutions for microbial testing of cannabis: